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The 

Czechs of Cleveland 



By 

ELEANOR E. LEDBETTER 

Librarian Broadway Branch 
Cleveland Public Library 



Published by 

Americanization Committee 

Mayor's Advisory War Committee 
Cleveland. 1919 






Copyright 1920 

E. E. LEDBETTER 

Cleveland, Ohio 



MAK 12 1920 
g)CU566031 



ryts.^ 



I 



TO 

ALL MY CZECH FRIENDS 

ESPECIALLY 

THOSE IVHO USE 

THE BROADWAY LIBRARY 

— The Author 



THE CZECHS OF CLEVELAND 



Foreword 

This pamphlet is intended as a method of Americanizing the American. 
Those who have had long experience in the work of Americanization 
testify that if Americans in general would more readily recognize the value 
of what the immigrant brings to us it would be much easier to teach that 
immigrant the culture of America. Sympathy begets sympathy and a gen- 
erous appreciation of the value of the newcomer is the best way to make him 
feel at home. And so in order to give to the native bom citizens of Cleveland 
a knowledge of their foreign bom neighbors a series of booklets has been 
prepared and published. This is the sixth of the series. 

The Czechs (more commonly known as Bohemians) constitute one of 
the largest and oldest groups of immigrants which has made Cleveland its 
home. More than a generation ago the Czechs started to settle in Cleveland 
and in the course of time have become a permanent and more stable element in 
the life of the city. The following pages describe how the Czechs first settled in 
the Croton Street section of the East Side when that marked the extreme limit 
of urban life and with the growth of the city moved steadily east and south. 
Bohemians have been leaders in the development of the great city in which 
they they found homes. Men and women of Bohemian birth have found 
their way into places of distinction in all of the varied activities of the city. 

Only within the past three years, however, have Americans been brought 
to the realization of the splendid background of the Bohemian immigrant. 
The land of the Czechs, beautiful and productive, beyond measure, has like 
Ireland been a place where liberty became the passionate quest of a people. 
Before the American Revolution the Czechs had fought without success for 
the right to govern themselves. That fight bore no fruit at home until that 
splendid event of the recent war, the signing of the Czecho-Slovak Declara- 
tion of Independence in our own Independence Hall in Philadelphia. And so 
the Czechs of Cleveland even before they left their native land were united 
with America in that aspiration for the right of self-expression which after 
all is the best and most precious American heritage. As Americans, the Czechs 
have been worthy of all the opportunities which they found in their adopted 
home. Their stor}^ should make every American a better and more generous 
citizen. 

RAYMOND MOLEY, 
Chairman of the Cleveland Americanization Committee. 



Bohemian National Hymn 

Where is my home' 

Where is my home' 

In the meadows waters gleaming 

On the hillside pine woods dreaming 

Orchards shine with blossoms bright, 

Earthly paradise to sight. 

That's the small but lovely country 

Fair Bohemia is my home, 

Fair Bohemia is my home! 

Where is my home? 
Where is my home ? 
If you know heaven giving, 
Where the gentlest souls are living 
Loving hearts with gifted mind, 
And a strength that rocks can grind. 
That's the glory crowned nation, 
Where the Czechs are is my home, 
Where the Czechs are is my home ! 



— Josef Kajetan Tyl. 



The Czechs of Cleveland 

CLEVELAND is one of the largest Czech cities in the world. The 
national capital, Prague, of course comes first in numbers as in im- 
portance, the Austrian capital Vienna is second, the American Chicago 
is third, and Cleveland is fourth. For some years the relative positions of 
Cleveland and New York were uncertain, but since 1910 Cleveland has had 
unquestionably the larger number. Its important position in this respect 
was humorously indicated by a squib in the "Camp Sherman Gazette" last 
year, which stated, "There is no truth in the riunor that the capital of the 
Czechoslovak Republic will be removed from Prague to the neighborhood of 
Broadway and E. 55th streets, Cleveland". 

The Czechs have always been known in this country by the English 
designation Bohemian, and it is only with the rise of their own state that the 
native name has become generally known in the English speaking world. 
Unfortunately this has to be transliterated, as the Bohemian language con- 
tains several characters not existing in English, among them the letter c. 
This is pronounced like the English ch and is now being generally written cz. 
which unfortunately offers no suggestion as to pronunciation to the English 
reader. The native name of Bohemia is Cechy, the people are Cechs, and the 
descriptive adjective is Cesky, — all pronounced as if beginning with ch. 

The racial term Czech includes not only the inhabitants of Bohemia, but 
also those of the sister states Moravia and Silesia, which now form part of 
the Czechoslovak Republic. Cleveland Czechs have come from all three of 
these states. 

There have been some Czechs in America from the very earliest times. 
The presidency of Harvard College was offered by Governor Winthrop to the 
great Czech educator, Jan Amos Komensky, better known by the Latinized 
name Comenius; but Cotton Mather tells us that "the solicitations of the 
Swedish ambassador diverting him another way, that incomparable Moravian 
became not an American." 

In the 14th and 15th centuries, Bohemia was in point of culture one of 
the most advanced nations in Europe. Her university of Prague was thronged 
by students from all over Europe, its professors were known to the world. 
But even then the struggle against Teutonic domination was an intense one, 
and by the end of the Thirty Years' War, culture had succumbed to force, 
and the Bohemian people were crushed under 'the heel of the Hapsburg 
dynasty. The national leaders were all either executed or exiled, their rich 
and abundant literature was utterly destroyed, and the remnant of the people 
who were left for long years had not force enough to offer effective resistance 
to encroachment and suppression. The Bohemian soul, however, was never 
touched, and by the beginning of the 19th century sufficient force had accu- 
mulated to wring many concessions from the Austrian government, among 
them the acknowledgement of the Bohemian language and permission for 
the establishment of schools and the extension of educational opportimity. 
As a result of this fight for education, and of the opportunities thus wrested 



THE CZECHS OF CLEVELAND 

from a hostile government, the Bohemians have been for years one of the 
two or three best educated races in Europe ; and among those coming to 
America the percentage of ilHteracy is only one and a half, — less than that 
among the native bom of any state in the Union, even those with compulsory 
education laws. 

First Immigration. 

After the failure of the Revolutionary movement of 1848, some Czech 
leaders were compelled to flee the country, and others, despairing of the 
future mider the House of Hapsburg, were disposed to give up the seemingly 
hopeless struggle. These were the pioneers of the Czech emigration to 
America. From 1850 to 1870, most of them came with the idea of taking up 
land and developing homesteads in Nebraska, Iowa, and Wisconsin. The 
journey in those days was a long and tiresome one, and Cleveland was a con- 
venient resting place on the way. Some who stopped only to rest, found it 
good to stay; in 1850 there were three families here, in 1860 there were fifteen, 
and in 1869 the nimiber had grown to 696 families, including 3252 persons. 
Thus the Czech immigration was from the first an immigration by families. 

Its industrial value may be judged by a selection from some statistics 
regarding the 3252 Czechs here in 1869. This number included 1949 men and 
their occupations were as follows: masons, 76; carpenters, 72; tailors, 56 
shoemakers, 44; coopers, 39; locksmiths, 25; blacksmiths, 19; merchants, 15 
professional musicians, 13, besides many others who had music as a side-line 
harness makers, 9; weavers, 9; stonecutters, 8; wheelrights, 7; tanners, 6 
tinsmiths, 6; bakers, 5; painters, 5; booksellers, 2; printers, 1; clockmaker, 1 
while 90 men and 50 women were employed on nearby farms. 

Location in Cleveland. 

It is hard now to imagine what Cleveland was like in the 60' s and early 
70's, when everything east of East 30th street was farm land. A history of 
the location and growth of the Czech settlements in Cleveland is actually a 
history of the growth of the city. In the first years of the Czechs in Cleve- 
land, they lived in the old district of Hill, Cross, and Commercial streets, but 
as soon as they had become assured of the means of subsistence, they began 
to reach toward their natural rural environment. The Czechs love the 
country. It is a saying among them here that when out early in the morning 
for a walk, for mushrooms, for a swim in the lake, or for fishing, you can 
speak in Bohemian to whomever you meet and he will answer. 

It follows that the Czechs never live in congested districts if they can 
help it. On the contrary they are always to be found on the edge of the city, 
where town and country meet; when the city follows, they move on. The 
older Czech still loves his own fenced-in yard, where he can have a vegetable 
garden, some bright colored flowers, and a few ducks or geese. In settle- 
ments on the outskirts of the city, flocks of geese still roam vacant allotments 
and hiss viciously at the timid American. 

As early as 1853, J. Capek and J. Doubrava bought farms and became the 
pioneer Bohemian farmers of the county. Their fellow covmtrymen built 
up two sections on what was then the outskirts of the city. The first was 
"Brooklyn," a term at that time applied quite loosely to the west bank of the 
river south of Ohio City. Land there was cheaper than in Cleveland, and 

8 



THE CZECHS OF CLEVELAND 

from the very beginning there were some Czech families there. One of the 
pioneer women of that district is reported as saying that at first the Ameri- 
cans looked at them as if they were some strange kind of animal. They 
could not understand why this was so, but later learned that it was because 
of their strange dress, particularly the shawls on their heads. When they 
learned the reason, they began to dress like Americans. 

On the east side of the river, many early Czech immigrants were em- 
ployed as laborers on farms, and immediately began to buy from their em- 
ployers plots for their own homes. Harvey Rice employed many on his farm 
in the neighborhood of what became Croton Street, and he sold them land 
on very easy terms, in some cases allowing them to work out the price. This 
was the beginning of the Croton street settlement, which was the Czech center 
of Cleveland from 1870 until the development of the Broadway district. 
Life here, we are told, was always gayer and brighter than in Brooklyn. The 
general merchandise store, steamship agency and public utility office, of 
Martin Krejci, at Croton and East 37th streets, was famous for the variety 
and multiplicity of its concents. A long flight of stairs led down the hill in 
front of this store, and many a new immigrant spent his first night in Cleve- 
land sitting on those steps. 

In the latter part of the 70's the Standard Oil Company began to em- 
ploy many Czechs. In those days barrels were all made by hand and the 
natural skill of the Czechs as hand workers found here a convenient and 
profitable field of employment. Almost every Czech man in the city at that 
period spent some time "making barrels for John D. Rockefeller." 

Convenience of access to this factory furnished the first motive for 
removal from Croton street across Kingsbury Run. In 1878 
the farms along the south side of the Run were parceled into lots, and the 
district in the neighborhood of Trumbull and East 37th streets became a 
residence district known as "na vrsku" (on the hill). Broadway, already 
in existence as a coimty road, formed the axis of the new settlement, and the 
development of the whole district from East 37th street to Union avenue took 
place very quickly and the 24th ward (now the 13th) a chronicler informs us, 
became "like a city of Bohemia." Meadow and woods gave place to 
streets, some of which still retain typical Czech names like Svoboda and 
Praha. These streets were built up with small, neat cottages, each with 
its own yard and garden, very comfortable and homey according to the 
standards of the time. For almost 40 years this district has been the 
Czech center of Cleveland. Stores, banks, national hall, and churches 
have helped to concentrate interest in this neighborhood, centering at 
Broadway and East 55th streets. 

The city, crowding on Croton street, made that district undesirable to 
the Czechs who were left there, and many moved out and built up a new 
settlement on a new edge of the city, which they called the "east side." This 
is in the neighborhood of Quincy avenue and East 82nd street. The west 
side Czechs also moved from "Brooklyn" to "Cuba," west of the creek at 
West 41st street, where their principal residence district is now on West 41st 
and neighboring streets, between Clark avenue and Dennison avenue. 

Great changes have taken place in all these districts in the last ten 
years. Business follows the Czech in Cleveland, and each of these centers is 
feeling its pressure. This is greatest in the Broadway district, which is now 
a wedge between two great arteries of the steel industry. Heavy smoke and 

9 



THE CZECHS OF CLEVELAND 

noxious fumes are fast killing the trees and will soon make gardens impossible. 
The houses that were neat and bright have become dingy and ugly, the gul- 
lies offer no more mushrooms, the nature lover has nothing left to enjoy, and 
another removal is in full tide. Similar conditions are approaching also on 
Quincy Avenue. 

It is characteristic of the Czechs in America always to build for them- 
selves. They have never followed in an old neighborhood, but have always 
built anew, and they are doing it now. The whole south-eastern part of the 
city is being built up by them. The additions known locally as Corlett, 
Newburgh City and Mt. Pleasant are very largely the homes of Czechs, as 
is also a considerable district out Buckeye road, and the Washington Park 
district, which is not yet in the city. The county highways to Bedford, 
to Brecksville, to Warrensville and to Chagrin Falls are lined with the 
homes of Czechs whose business interests are still in the city. These new 
houses are the equal of those in any middle class section of the city, and 
it is the testimony of salesmen that the Czech never scrimps in the equip- 
ment of his home. On the contrary, he usually takes his wife with him to 
choose fittings and furnishings, and makes the first consideration, not the 
price, but that "the missus" shall be suited. 

At the first the building of a home must have been very difficult for these 
immigrants, who often worked for as little as seventy-five cents a day. But 
they were fortunate in having so many skilled trades represented among 
their numbers. The mason helped the carpenter, and the carpenter helped 
the mason in exchange and cooperation took place among them as among 
the earlier American pioneers. The ownership of a home was one of the 
things the Czech had come to America for, and a home he would have. 

Savings and Loan Associations. 

Since 1896 the native thrift and foresight have found a helpful vehicle 
in savings and loan associations, which are incorporated under the laws of 
the state of Ohio. The very names of these organizations are suggestive: 
"Vcela," (the bee); "Mravenec," (the ant); "Oul" (the hive). 

Vcela, the oldest of these, was incorporated in March, 1896, and in 
twenty years had loaned over $10,000,000 on Cleveland real estate. Its 
present capital is $2,000,000, and it has $1,000,000 outstanding in loans. 
Its office is at 5733 Broadway, and it is beginning the erection of a fine office 
building at the comer of Broadway and Portage avenues. 

Mravenec was started a year later on the west side, and in 1918 changed 
its significant Czech name to the "Federal Savings and Loan association." 
Its office is in the Bohemian Sokol Hall at 4310 Clark avenue, and its present 
capital is about $1,150,000. 

The Cech Savings and Loan association is located at 3132 West 41st 
street. It was organized in 1907, and has capital to the extent of $700,000. 

The East End Building and Loan association, organized in 1911, with 
capital of half a million dollars, is at 8506 Quincy avenue. 

The Atlas, at 5454 Broadway, organized in 1915 has outstripped most 
of the older ones and now has $1,750,000 as capital. 

Other younger organizations are: The Progress Building, Savings and 
Loan Company, 4963 Broadway; "Oul" Building and Loan Association, 5638 
Broadway; Capital Savings Building & Loan Association, 5209 Fleet avenue, 
with a branch on Buckeye road; Hospodar Savings and Loan Association, 

11 



THE CZECHS OF CLEVELAND 




1 



Typical Busjness Building. 

12608 Miles avenue; Quincy Savings and Loan Association, Quincy avenue 
at East 89th Street. 

All these encourage thrift and teach the value of small savings by the 
same methods which the government adopted for the sale of thrift stamps. 
Twice a year Vcela places on the market a block of shares. The subscriber 
pays fifty cents a week per share, and at the end of six years is owner of a 
$200 dollar share, which he may either draw or leave on deposit at five per 
cent interest. 

The builder of a new home can get a construction loan up to three- 
fourths of the value of the property under way, and these loans are paid off 
by monthly payments which take care of the interest and constantly reduce 
the principal. Thus the workingman is assisted to finance the building of 
his home, and it would require an extraordinary run of bad luck to keep a 
Czech from completing his payments. 

The savings' and loan associations have by no means a monopoly of Czech 
savings and investments. The Broadway Savings and Trust Company, one 
of the strongest banks in the city, is built largely upon the patronage of the 
Czechs. The Columbia Savings and Loan Company, also at Broadway and 
East 55th street,' with a branch at 4828 Fleet avenue, also deals chiefly with 
Bohemians. On the west side the Clark avenue Savings Bank may be con- 
sidered a Bohemian bank, while the Society for Savings and other down towTi 
banks carry many Czech savings accounts. The day after payday in a Czech 
neighborhood sees a constant procession of depositors with passbooks and 
hard times seldom find the Czech without an account to draw on. 

Newspapers. 

Among the occupations of the Czechs listed in Cleveland in 1869, there 
was one printer. We are not informed 'whether he had opportunity to work 
at his trade at that time, but he undoubtedly did in 1871, when the newspaper 
"Pokrok" (Progress) was brought here from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and es- 

12 



THE CZECHS OF CLEVELAND 

tablished at 104 Croton street. Its successive editors in Cleveland were men 
of the widest feputation, F. J. Zdrubek, J. V. Capek, and Vaclav Snajdr. 
In 1878 Mr. Snajdr merged "Pokrok" and "Dennice Noveveku" (Star of the 
New Era) \inder the name of the latter, and continued to edit it until 1915. 
In 1911 "Svet" (The World) was started as a daily paper under the same 
management in an excellent new building at 4514 Broadway. "Dennice 
Noveveku" was continued as a weekly until 1915, when it -was entirely ab- 
sorbed in "Svet." This chain of newspapers has always represented the 
free-thinking element among the Czechs. 

Since the founding of the first paper "Pokrok," forty other periodical 
publications in the Bohemian language have seen the light in Cleveland. 
Some of these have been the organs of various societies or institutions, some 
have been parish papers, and some excellent newspapers of general appeal. 
Their careers have varied in length from a few issues to nearly twenty years. 
The first attempt at a daily paper was made in 1888 by J. V. Lunak, with 
"Ceske Noviny" (Czech News), but the time was not yet ripe for a daily, 
and Mr. Limak suffered considerable loss in his venture. Later "Volnost" 
(Freedom), which had been founded in 1880 by Edward Veverka and Charles 
and Edward Vopalecky, developed from a tri-weekly into a daily. This 
paper was published without a break from 1880 to 1908. 

At the present time there are three Bohemian newspapers of importance 
published in this city, besides several smaller publications bf limited interest. 
There are two dailies, "Svet." already mentioned,, and the "American", 
which is published at 5377-79 Broadway by F. J. Svoboda, who founded it 
in 1899. Both are good papers, well edited and illustrated, and are widely 
read, the "American" being favored by the adherents of the Catholic faith. 

"Americke Delnicke Listy" (American Workman's News), published at 
4032 Broadway, was founded in 1909, and is the organ of the Bohemian 
branch of the Socialist party in America. It was in a considerable degree 
due to the influence of the editor, Joseph Martinek, that this branch of the 
party rejected the St. Louis platform. Mr. Martinek, who in 1917 spent 
some months in Russia as a representative of the Bohemian National Alliance, 
came back decidedly of the opinion that the Bolsheviki are not true socialists, 
and that the Socialist party in America should not identify its cause with 
theirs. 

A distinctive custom of the Czech people in America is that of expressing 
congratulations or condolences through the medium of paid advertisements 
in the newspapers. A very popular couple v/ill be congratulated on their 
marriage perhaps to the extent of a page of congratulatory notices. The 
usual form is two columns wide and about four inches deep, enclosed in a 
"box", but special fervor or social standing may be expressed by increasing 
the size of type and box, and including a verse of poetry. 

Other advertisements are those of the entertainments of societies and 
lodges. During the summer picnics to country farms and groves are the 
principal thing, but from October to June musical and dramatic entertain- 
ments hold the field. A single issue of a paper has contained announcements 
of fifteen different dramatic performances to be staged within a space of two 
weeks in the various Czech centers of the city. 

The general character of the Bohemian newspapers of Cleveland is 
excellent. They co-operate in all public movements and their devotion to the 
cause of freedom is a passionate one. During the war, they gave whole 

13 



THE CZECHS OF CLEVELAND 

pages of advertising free to the government, — as the English papers did not 
— and their support of every good cause is always wholehearted. They 
specialize, of course, in news from the home land, and through underground 
channels were often able to reveal Austrian conditions which were never 
officially acknowledged. In the establishment of the Czecho-Slovak Re- 
public, their influence has been incalculable. 

Important as is the present position of these papers, there can be no 
doubt that their future as Bohemian publications is distinctly limited. They 
are read by the old people and the newcomers. Of the young people who 
have grown up in this country, there are comparatively few who read Bo- 
hemian at all, and, without immigration, the clientele of these papers must 
necessarily decrease. Even among the older people, there are few who do 
not have a workable knowledge of English, but they cling to the news in 
Czech, because thus only are they sure of complete and perfect understand- 
ing. They can get the gist of a news item in English, but to read it in their 
own tongue, gives them assurance as to details and significance. 

First Organization. 

The first organization of Czechs in Cleveland was formed in May, 1862, 
as a branch of "Slovanska Lipa" (the Slavonic lime-tree). The lime-tree is 
the national tree of Bohemia, and this name was in Austria a subtle 
designation of race. On November 16, 1863, this little group of poor 
immigrants demonstrated their devotion to dramatic art by a performance 
which they staged in the fire-engine house on East 22nd street. This first 
performance was followed by others, and funds were acciunulated for a 
community hall which in 1871 was built at the comer of Croton avenue and 
East 40th street, and named "Slovanska Lipa." It is still in use for its 
original purpose, although it has passed into private ownership, and it is not 
now so popular as the newer and larger halls, which are more centrally located. 

Dramatic Organizations. 

Specialization developed early in "Slovanska Lipa," and "Perun" was 
organized as its dramatic branch in 1866. Later this society broke away 
from the parent organization and built "Perun Hall," also on Croton street. 
This hall is now a store room of the city fire department. 

From that early time until the present there has been no intermission in 
the regular presentation of dramatic performances by Czech amateurs, al- 
though their number was very much reduced by the absence of all the young 
men during the great war. 

The dramatic society "Tyl," founded in 1881, is named for the great 
Czech playright, Josef Tyl, who introduced into one of his dramas the song 
"Where is my home," (see page 5) which has been adopted as the national 
hymn. The society "Tyl" has 60 members who take its purpose very seri- 
ously and produce a drama ever}^ month from October to May. 

Almost every organization has its dramatic branch, — churches, lodges, 
sokols, and even the Bohemian Red Cross. The Czech language schools also 
drill the children in the drama, thus ensuring a degree of familiar use of cor- 
rect language. The play "Krakonos," acted by the children of the Mt. 
Pleasant center in March, 1919, may be described as a type of these plays: 

Krakonos is a hermit, having an enchanted garden, cultivated under his direction 
by dwarves, elves and crickets, who after the fashion of the stage do considerable dancing 
in intervals of hoeing and spading. In the second scene is shown the home of a poor 

14 



THE CZECHS OF CLEVELAND 

widow, Mrs. Musil, who is destitute and ill. Her three children, of whom the eldest is 
Marenka, are hungry and in tears. A kind neighbor, who is also poor, brings in a loaf of 
bread, which is all she has to oflfer. There is talk of a magic flower in the garden of 
Krakonos which would cure the mother. Marenka slips out to find the garden and the 
flower. As she goes through the dark forest, she is hindered on every hand by the dwarves 
elves, fairies and crickets and finally by a very dreadful witch. She is fearfully frightened 
but persists, and finally reaches the garden, but then does not know which flower is the 
magic one. Some are red, some are yellotv, of pure gold, and in the center is one beau- 
tiful white flower. Krakonos appears while she is looking ^bout; he is very tall and 
frightful, and in a terrible voice accuses her of trying to steal his gold. She tremblingly 
explains her real purpose, and he, not believing her, tells her that the white flower will 
cure her mother, but that the one who plucks it will die. Marenka plucks the flower, and 
is struck by lightning. Krakonos. horrified at the result of his threat, visits the home 
of the widow, places the white flowers on her breast, and scatters the golden flowers 
over the two children who are asleep on the bare floor. The mother begins to awaken, 
and rises recovered. The children waken, and exclaim at the shower of gold which had 
fallen upon them. A neighbor brings the dreadful news of Marenka's death, and soon 
two wood-cutters come in, cai rying her body on a stretcher. The cottage is full of sorrow 
borne with courage and fortitude by the mother. Marenka's little form is composed for 
her burial, and the children gather up the white flowers and place them in her arms for 
adornment. To the surprise of all, the flowers restore her, even as they had restored 
the mother; the gold makes the future look fairer, and the final tableau indicates the 
happiness which comes from family love and unselfish devotion. 

It is no doubt in part this childhood training which enables the 
adult Czech to appear in public entirely without self consciousness. While 
folk tales are the usual themes of the juvenile actors, the national history 
furnishes the background for most of the adult performances, although "Tyl" 
usually gives one Shakespearean drama each year. 

Musical Organizations. 

Side by side with the dramatic society is the musical organization . The 
devotion of the Czech to music is well known. A newspaper squib attributed 
to Bohemian men a double life, — tailors by day and musicians by night. 
Every Czech child takes music lessons: little girls have piano lessons first, 
often followed by some other instrument, while boys usually start with the 
violin, and often take up wind instruments also. This is considered just as 
necessary as any other part of their education, and it is often the means of 
assisting their way through college and professional schools. Its disadvant- 
ages as such an aid were indicated by a would-be athlete, who said sadly that 
the student who depends upon music to help him financially, can not play 
baseball. 

Most of the orchestras of the city are made up largely of Czechs. Mr. 
C. V. Rychlik, one of the best known violinists of the city, comes from a 
prominent Czech family. Vincent Charvat was one of the best local cornetists 
and Edward Krejsa excels as a pianist and as a conductor. The Hruby 
orchestra, consisting of- the talented members of a single family, for years 
toured the country with great appreciation. The Hruby Conservatory of 
music, at 5415 Broadway, is an important center of musical instruction, and 
there are many other Czech teachers of great ability. 'J he Machan family 
also have much more than local fame. Miss Clarice Balas is now on a 
concert tour, and John Zamecnik is a widely known composer. 

The musical society "Lumir" has maintained its existence continuously 
from ] 867 until the present, and has combined forces with "Hlahol," a younger 
organization. These choral societies produce each season an opera by some 
distinguished Czech composer. The most ambitious is Smetana's "Bartered 

15 




St. Prokop's Church. 



THE CZECHS OF CLEVELAND 

Bride," which has been given several times with the assistance of other choral 
societies. The 1919 performance was "Hubicka" (The Kiss) by the same 
composer. The scene of this opera is laid in the mountains of Slovensko, and 
peasant customs and mountain brigands share in the action. The music 
was very well rendered, the acting was excellent, and the performance as a 
whole was fully equal to many seen on the professional stage. The Cleve- 
land music lover should make a point of seeing the annual performance of 
Lumir-Hlahol. 

These dramatic and musical performances are always reviewed critically 
by the Czech press, who demand a high level of excellence. 

Religious Situation. 

The religious situation among t^ e Czechs has brought them more 
notoriety than any other feature of their life in this country, and has been 
the occasion of much criticism and misunderstanding. It is absurd to think 
of the compatriots of Huss and of Jerome of Prague as irreligious, but to 
understand their religious life here it is necessary to review their past history. 

Religious Background. 

The Christian religion was brought to Bohemia from Constantinople 
by the apostles Cyril and Methodius, with whom worship found expression 
through the Slavonic liturgy. This was used with the permission of Pope 
John VIII in the Czechoslovak country until the middle of the eleventh 
century, when the Latin liturgy, as generally used in the western church, 
was substituted for it. A recent petition to the Pope has requested a return 
to the Slavonic liturgy. 

The first of the great religious reformers was the English Wycliffe; the 
second was Bohemia's "learned doctor," Jan Hus,(John Huss), who was burned 
as a heretic in 1415. His body perished at the stake, but his spirit will never 
cease to inspire the Bohemian people. He stands to them for freedom, 
whether from clericalism and ecclesiastical domination, or for political freedom, 
or for freedom from German influence; for the spirit of the Czech language, 
which he made the vehicle of a great literature ; for democracy, since "the com- 
munion of the cup" was the religious expression of democracy, and since he 
represented the people rather than the priestly class; for freedom of speech, for * 
which he died; and finally as the incarnation of resistance to oppression, what- 
ever its source. It is because he stands for all these things that his name is 
borne by Czech societies of every shade of religious belief. 

For almost two hundred years Bohemia was a Protestant country, the 
first in Europe. Assailed on every side by the German race, its political down- 
fall in 1620 was followed by the complete extirpation of Protestantism. The 
nation of over four million people was reduced to a mere eight hundred thou- 
sand, and by will of the emperor all were Roman Catholics. Until 1870 no 
other religion was tolerated in Bohemia. Then freedom was permitted to cer- 
tain reformed groups, but not to the Bohemian Brethren, the descendants of 
the Hussites. 

Religion in America. 

This background shows the inherited preparation for religious revolt ex- 
isting among the Czechs when they came to this country. They were almost 
all Catholics,but the possibility of being whatever they liked was stimulating. 
Some of the early clergy failed to appreciate this, and employed the same arbi- 

17 




i 



THE CZECHS OF CLEVELAND 

trary methods of control which they had been accustomed to use in the old 
country. In Cleveland, the first break came through the opposition of the 
priest to a fraternal organization. This organization, the Cecho-Slavonic Be- 
nevolent Association, seems to have been quite harmless in original intention, 
having as its object mutual assistance and fraternal insurance. Its members 
felt that the priest opposed it because he could not dominate it. The priest 
said that it taught ideas subversive of faith and morality. Recrimination grew 
fierce and bitter, and nothing was too bad for either to say about the other. 

Just at this time Thomas Paine's "Age of Reason" was translated into 
Bohemian, and became the weapon of the liberal party. Robert E. Ingersoll, 
then in the height of his personal power,became to them the 19th century apos- 
tle of religious freedom, and the pendulum of religious faith swung to the fur- 
thest extreme of complete denial of all creeds and of every religious form. The 
Czechs of America were divided into two camps, those who remained faithful 
to the church, and those who professed an absolute denial of all religion. This 
denial became a religion in itself. Persecution was enjoyed as the natural 
corollary of progressive thought, and the free thinking organizations by the end 
of the 80's included fully half of the Czechs of Cleveland. 

Any movement of protest loses impetus when resistance ceases, and the 
zeal of the free thinking movement could not be passed on in its first fervor 
from the founders to their successors, who had never personally known the 
need for protest. Many of the second generation have grown up into what 
their parents call " the American indifference," while others have found a bal- 
ance of the pendulum in the Protestant churches. 

The present religious situation of the Czechs in Cleveland then has three 
aspects: there are those who have remained consistently loyal to the Roman 
Catholic church; these are about half the total number; there are the positive 
free thinkers, whose number is steadily diminishing; the third group is the 
Protestants, among whom the young people are joining the English-speaking 
congregations of the city and entirely ceasing to be identified as Czechs. A 
fourth group might be made of the young people who are entirely indifferent 
to religion. 

The First Church in Cleveland. 

The first Czech priest in Cleveland was the Rev. Antonin Krasny, who 
came to the city in 1857, after eight years in an Austrian prison because of his 
part in the Revolution of 1848. In prison he had contracted an illness from 
which he never afterwards was free, and which was the cause of his death in 
1870. His sufferings in his country's cause undoubtedly furnished a favorable 
atmosphere among his countrymen here, and he was very much liked. As pas- 
tor of St. Joseph's German church on Woodland avenue, he ministered also to 
the Czechs of the city. In 1863 they organized within St. Joseph's church the 
society of St. John Nepomucene, which was the nucleus of the first Czech 
church. This church was founded in 1867 and named St. Vaclav's after 
the first Christian king of Bohemia, who reigned from 928 to 936 and was 
afterwards canonized. Later the official name of the church was changed to 
the Latinized form St. Wenceslas. The first church building, erected in the 
fall of 1867, at the corner of Arch and Burwell streets, was with great effort 
completed before Christmas, and the first sendee actually took place on Dec. 
22. A rectory and school building were added two years later, and from this 
center initiative was furnished for the establishment of the other early Czech 

19 



THE C Z E C H S OF CLEVELAND 




St, Prokop's School. 



parishs. In 188(5, St. Wenceslas church followed its con.e^regation to the 
Broadway neighborhood, and erected a beautiful new church at the comer of 
Broadway and East 37th streets. Since then both churches have been main- 
tained for service, the rectory remaining at 2666 East 35th Place. 

The old school building on Burwell avenue is used by the higher grades, 
while the younger children attend school in a building next the new church, 
which building also houses the teachers, who are Sisters of St. Joseph. The 
school at present has about 400 pupils. 

Rev. Antonin Hynek, who came to this parish in 1873, spent a long Hfe in 
its care, remaining in charge until his death in 1917. During his last years, 
however, his ill health placed most of the duties of the parish upon his assistant 
Rev. Joseph W. Koudelka, who has since been appointed pastor. Father Kou- 
delka is a nephew of Bishop Koudelka. The present situation of St. Wenceslas 
is a difficult one, since it is the problem of a changing neighborhood. The pros- 
perous and progressive parishioners have all moved farther out, and the district 
is becoming one of a very mixed population, in which the Czech will not long 
predominate. 

St. Prokop's Church. 

The second Czech parish in the city was founded in 1874 on the west side. 
It was named for St. Prokop, who was one of the early pupils of SS. Cyril and 
Methodius, and was the founder of a religious order adapted especially to the 
needs of the Slav race. The first pastor was the Rev. Joseph M. Koudelka, 

20 



THE CZECHS OF CLEVELAND 

now bishop of Wisconsin, who is the only Czech yet raised to a bishopric in the 
Roman Catholic church in this country. The present pastor is the Rev. Peter 
M. Cerveny, who has been in charge of the parish since 1901 and has superin- 
tended the erection of most of the buildings now in use. St. Prokop's church 
is at the comer of West 41st street and Trent avenue, and the parish buildings 
extend through to Newark avenue, and constitute one of the most complete 
church plants in the city. 

The church itself is a fine large edifice, the interior decorations of which 
were all specially designed. The baptistry is of black Russian marble, and the 
stations of the cross are excellent statuary groups. Within the chancel are 
replicas of two miraculous statues on the Holy Mountain (Svata Hora) in Bo- 
hemia. They are known as "The Virgin of Prague"and "The Infant of Prague" 
and many pilgrimages are made to the originals. These copies are exact du- 
plicates of the figures, embroidered robes, and hand-wrought golden crowns 
set with jewels, and when ready for Cleveland they were touched to the mirac- 
ulous originals. 

St. Prokop's is a really beautiful church, the finest of the Czech churches 
in the city. Its service flag bears 176 stars, of which six are now in gold. The 
names of these six young men are recorded on a memorial tablet. To accom- 
modate the large congregation, four sermons are preached every Sunday, one of 
which is always in English. 

The parochial school building is also up to the standard of the very best in 
school buildings. Ample space, well lighted and clean hallways, and well 
equipped school rooms put it in a different class from most parochial schools 
buildings. There is a kindergarten, the only one in a Catholic school in Cleve- 
land; among Bohemian parochial schools there is only one other, which is in 
Chicago. Besides the kindergarten and the eight grades, two years of commer- 
cial work are given. A special teacher of music gives vocal and instrumental 
lessons to classes and individuals. The teachers belong to the Sisters of Notre 
Dame; they have in their charge 800 pupils. 

In the building is a library of both English and Bohemian books, especially 
strong in Czech folk-lore; there is also a well equipped gymnasium, and provi- 
sion for basket ball, indoor baseball, and similar sports; the gymnasium fur- 
nishes also an excellent dancing floor for social nights. 

On the ground floor is the theater, with a stage large enough to mass three 
hundred children upon it and with several sets of good scenery. Dramatic per- 
formances are given here regularly by the parish dramatic society named 
for the Czech poet, Boleslav Jablonsky. 

On Newark avenue is the club house, into which the old church was altered. 
The ground floor is divided into lodge rooms; the upper floor is a recreation 
hall. Three tables offer opportunity for billiards and pool and a second room 
is equipped for table games. A small stage is convenient for boxing exhibi- 
tions and other entertainments. While these rooms are used chiefly by men, 
"ladies' nights" keep the place from becoming exclusively masculine. 

The parish property includes also a handsome rectory, harmonizing in ar- 
chitecture with church and school ; two houses connected by a covered passage 
for the teachers; a house for the janitor; and a separate heating plant. A 
monthly parish paper is called "Mesicni Viestnik" (The Monthly Messenger). 

Our Lady of Lourdes Church. 

When the Czechs began to move out Broadway, Father Hynek bought 
land at Hamm avenue and East 54th street where the parish of Our Lady of 

21 




Our Lady of Lourdes School and Church. 



THE CZECHS OF CLEVELAND 

Lourdes was established in 1883, with Rev. Stephen Furdek as its pastor. 
Father Furdek was a Slovak and a national leader in Slovak affairs, while re- 
maining all his life the pastor of this Czech parish. All classes of people pro- 
nounce tipon him the ideal obituary, "He was a very good man." Our Lady of 
Lourdes grew to a commanding position under his care, and is still the largest 
Bohemian parish in the city, having a membership of about six thousand per- 
sons. The parochial school has a registration of 900 pupils who are taught by 
the Sisters of Notre Dame. 

The parish organization of our Lady of Lourdes is very extensive. There 
are forty-five societies, several of which are uniformed organizations whose ap- 
pearance adds color to the parish celebrations. Among them are the Knights 
of Columbus, the Cadets of St. Alexander, the Hunters of St. George, the 
Catholic Foresters, and the parish Sokol organization. The musical and dra- 
maict society, "Antonin Dvorak", named for the great Czech composer, has a 
membership of 300 persons, and a second one is called the "Vaclav Benes Tre- 
biszky Society," after the popular Czech novelist. These societies present 
dramas in the parish hall at frequent intervals. A parish paper "Farnik" (the 
Parishioner) is published semi-monthly and is of newspaper size. 

A number of Cleveland priests now holding important charges have 
served their apprenticeship as assistants at Our Lady of Lourdes. Among them 
are Rev. V. J. Horak, pastor of St. Martin's Slovak church ; Rev. J. W. Becka, 
of St. Adalbert's Bohemian parish; and the Rev. V. A. Chaloupka, of the Slo- 
vak parish of St. Mary of the Nativity. The present assistant, Rev. C.W. Dik, 
has carried the entire responsibility ofthe parish during considerable intervals 
in the lasu five years; first during the illness of Father Furdek and the interim 
before the appointment of his successor. Rev. Oldrich Zlamal, and lately during 
the absence of Father Zlamal in the nationalistic work which has resulted so 
splendidly. 

The essential unity of the Czechoslovak state is shown in the history of 
this Czech parish and its two pastors: Father Furdek, a Slovak, whose great 
interest outside his parish was the welfare and improvement of the Slovak 
race; and Father Zlamal, a Moravian, previously pastor of a Slovak parish, 
whose patriotic services have greatly contributed to the success of the Czecho- 
slovak cause. 

Until the war, a great gulf yawned between Catholic and free thinking 
Czechs. Father Zlamal was a strong factor among the wise leaders who bridged 
the chasm so that all might work together for the common cause. He spent 
much time dviring the years 1917 and 1918 making addresses and otherwise 
working for the cause in this country, and during the period from February to 
September, 1919, as a chaplain of the Knights of Columbus, he carried the mes- 
sage of American sympathy and support to the people of Bohemia. F^ither 
Zlamal and Monsignor Bouska, of Tabor, South Dakota, were commissioned 
by the Holy See to explain to the people of the new republic the American plan 
of the separation of church and state. In pursuit of this mission Father Zlamal 
traveled through the country addressing Czecho-Slovaks of every faith, and so 
helped to prepare public sentiment for the present Commission on the Separa- 
tion of Church and State. His return in September was celebrated by an en- 
thusiastic reception on the part of his parishioners, to many of whom he 
brought direct word from their relatives whom he had seen and talked with in 
the old country. 

23 



THE CZECHS OF CLEVELAND 

St. Adalbert's Church. 

St. Adalbert's church was formed in "East Cleveland" in 1882, and was 
originally called St. Vojtech, which is the Czech form of the same name. It is 
situated at 2347 East 83rd street, between Quincy and Central avenues. 
When the new church was completed recently, the old one was converted into 
a gymnasium, where a systematic athletic yjrogram is carried out. The bell of 
the new church rings the sweeter, because it was specially made in Bohemia. 
The parochial school is taught by the Sisters of Notre Dame, and has about 
300 pupils. The parish paper is "Mesicni Prehled" (Monthly Review). 

Church of St. John Nepomucene. 

The parish of St. John Nepomucene is an outgrowth of "Our Lady of 
Lourdes" parish. It was founded in 1902, and has had as its pastor since its 
formation the Rev. F. J. Hroch. A large new church of good architectural de- 
sign has just been completed at Fleet avenue and East oOth street and the old 
church has been altered into school rooms. A handsome rectory on Inde- 
pendence road, and a btdlding with school rooms on the ground floor and 
residence space for teachers on the second floor complete the present group of 
btiildings. There are 650 children in the school, and the teachers are Sisters oj 
St. Dominic. 

Holy Family Church. 

The Church of the Holy Family was built some years ago as a small 
chapel at East 131st street and Chapelside avenue, and was maintained as a 
chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes. It has now grown into a separate parish, 
and a fine church building is projected, to care for the needs of one of the 
most rapidly growing parts of the city. 

Protestant Churches. 

The Protestant Bohemian churches make a comparatively small show- 
ing, and it is probable that their special mission is nearly fulfilled. They are 
as follows: Cyril Congregational church, at West 43rd street and Cyril 
avenue, Rev. John Musil, pastor; Emanuel Congregational Church, 2373 
East 82nd St.; Mizpah Congregational Church, East 59th street, near Fleet 
avenue, Rev. Philip Reitinger, pastor; Broadway Methodist Episcopal 
Church, Broadway and Gallup avenues, Rev. E. E. Pierce, pastor, Rev. 
V. J. Louzecky, Bohemian pastor. 

The original members of these churches were the comparatively small 
number of Czechs who, on leaving the Roman Catholic Church, did not 
swing to the free thinking extreme and the equally small number of Protestant 
immigrants. Their organizations are losing power simply because their 
second generation are completely absorbed into American life and English 
speaking churches. The system of the Roman Catholic church promotes 
solidarity of races, the young people being held to the parish allegiance of 
their parents. As the older people disappear from the congregations the 
churches will necessarily come to be entirely English speaking, but the change 
comes slowly. Among the Protestants, on the contrary, no effort is made to 
hold the second generation to the Bohemian language, and their young 
people choose their church affiliations out of the whole range of city oppor- 
tunities. 

All these churches do work which is interesting and vital, and their 
organization is very dear to the older members of their congregations, to 

24 



THE CZECHS OF CLEVELAND 

whom Protestantism is not only a religion, but also an expression of freedom. 
Mizpah, which was planned as a Polish mission, but developed into a Bo- 
hemian one, has been self-supporting from the start, and it has the largest 
group of active young members. It is therefore quite probable that it may 
develop into a strong American church. 

The Broadway Methodist Episcopal is, doing the largest work at 
present, and this is possible because it maintains its Bohemian organiza- 
tion only as supplementary to its English. Its Sunday school has long been 
an important influence in the community, and within the last few years a 
large program of community service has been undertaken. The new church 
on Broadway, opposite Magnet avenue, now nearing completion, will afford 
enlarged opportunities, and it is planned to retain the old building as a center 
for social activities. The work is social in the broadest sense, and every effort 
is made to avoid even the suspicion of proselyting. 

National Halls 

Among the Czechs of liberal thought, the national halls supply centers 
corresponding in a way to the church centers of the religiously loyal, and ic 
must be admitted that the national halls offer more attractions on the social 
side than most of the churches . They are genuine social centers, and they 
thrive because they are the expression by the people themselves of their own 
definite social desires. 

The largest and most important of these halls is the Bohemian National 
Hall at 4939 Broadway, and its organization may be described as typical of 
them all. It is owned by the community, having been erected in 1889 by 
personal gifts, money raised by bazaars and the like, and by contributions 
which took the form of shares of stock on the part of various 'organizations 
officially combining in the efforts for the building. These shares have been 
gradually paid off from the income of the building, until now.of the thirty- 
four societies having stock, none has more than $100. These societies include 
twelve chapters of C. S. P. S. and nine chapters of women's beneficiary 
organizations, the other thirteen societies having varied aims and purposes. 
The management rests in a board called the Patronat, consisting on two 
delegates from each of these societies. The Patronat annually elect from their 
own nimiber a board of thirteen directors who are responsible for the manage- 
ment of the building during their term of office. Joseph Frcka, as president 
of the board of directors, is a hard-working executive officer. Seventy-three 
societies meet here regularly, some as often as once a week, others only once 
a month. The property is now worth about $80,000. It consists of a 
large brick building, with stores on the front of the ground floor. Between 
these stores is a broad entrance to the hall proper. On the ground 
floor are the ticket stand, several large committee rooms, and a small theatre, 
designed especially for children's entertainments. This room is also used 
for athletic work. Living quarters for the janitor ensure his continual pres- 
ence. On the second floor is the large theatre, which with the balcony will 
seat 1000 persons. Check rooms, retiring rooms, refreshment xoom, dressing 
rooms for actors, and the stage, occupy the rest of the floor. The drop cur- 
tain is a view of one of the bridges of "Golden Prague" with the Hradcany in 
the background, and there are many sets of scenery. The third and fourth 
floors are divided into lodge rooms, and the numerous group photographs 
on the walls furnish material for a history of their respective organizations. 

25 



THE CZECHS OF CLEVELAND 

Almost every room has a portrait of John Huss, and of Zizka, and also a 
portrait of the patriot or writer, for whom the individual lodge is named. 
Portraits of Fugner and T>ts and trophies of contests won, adorn the walls 
of the room used by the Sokols. 

In the lobby a large, hand-carved frame contains mementoes from the 
graves of Bohemia's great, — composers, musicians, poets, patriots and novel- 
ists are all represented by this collection, made in Bohemia by Joseph Stibr 
and framed in Cleveland by Alois Klimes. 

An addition to the original building contains fovir school rooms for the 
use of the Czech language schools, concerning which mention will be made 
later. 

The next largest hall is the Bohemian Sokol Hall at 4314 Clark avenue, 
which is a center for the West Side. This hall was purchased from the 
Hungarians. A "garden" furnishes a place for simimer gatherings, with a 
pavilion for dancing and other entertainment. 

The Bohemian American Hall, (Ceska America Sin) at 8802 Quincy 
avenue is a rallying place for its neighborhood. It was built in 1910 by the 
combined efforts of eleven organizations, and every inch of the space is fully 
used. There are school rooms and lodge rooms, all having on their walls 
portraits of the national heroes, Huss and Zizka, while the main part of the 
JDuilding is the large hall which is also used as a gymnasium and as a dance 
hall. The stage is well proportioned with good dressing rooms, and the drop 
curtain depicts the castle of Probulov in southern Bohemia. 

Jan Amos Komensky Hall, at East 131st street and Lambert avenue is 
named for the great educator of whom all Czechs are justly proud. It fur- 
nishes an important contribution to the neighborhood life of a young com- 
munity where no other organization is attempting social activities. Six 
societies were in its original Patronat, and its equipment and management 
is distinctly high class. One set of scenery cost $700, and the curtain is a 
picture of Hradcany castle, in which, it is proudly stated. President Masaryk 
now has his official residence. There are two school rooms, attended on 
Saturdays and Sundays by 200 children, who are graded into four classes. 

The "Ceska Spolkova Sin" (Bohemian Lodge Hall,) at 11306 Buckeye 
road is the youngest of these community halls; it was erected in 1916, and 
the present building is regarded as the nucleus to which additions will be 
made as soon as war conditions are fully past. It consists now of one large 
hall which undergoes frequent transformations. An adjustable stage makes 
it a theatre; adjustable desks make it a school room; athletic apparatus, in 
turn, converts it into a gymnasium; sim])le furniture makes it into a lodge 
hall, while the removal of all furniture makes the final transformation into a 
ball room. 

All these halls are equipped with kitchens and refreshment rooms, and 
are the scenes of frequent community dances. The dramatic performance is 
invariably followed by a dance, the chairs being removed and the floor 
cleared with lightning rapidity. These dances are conducted in such a way 
as to furnish wholesome pleasure to the young people. They are in no sense 
promiscuous affairs, the supervision being ver>' close. In many cases all guests 
are registered by name. Since the attendance is that of a homogeneous social 
group, the indi\'idual guests are almost always known either by family or by 
personal reputation, to the management, and the possibility of undesirable 
associations is reduced to a minimum. 

26 



THE 



CZECHS 



O F 



CLEVELAND 




Bohemian National Hall. 



Thus, through schools, gymnasiums, lodges, musical and dramatic 
performances, receptions and dances, these halls furnish social life and a 
variety of interests for every age in their community. 



Czech Language Schools 

The schools are under the direction of the "Bohemian Free Thinkers 
School Organization," whose headquarters is in Chicago. 

The Czech loves his native language, which was, during the centuries of 
Austrian oppression, his only means of national assertion. Now he wishes his 
children to retain this tie to the past, and it is only through special effort that 
they have any chance to do so, since English is their ordinary language. These 
schools have therefore a decidedly cultural value, since they add to the child's 
equipment knowledge of a second language, and through that language 
access to the treasures of history and literatiire which are legitimately 

27 



THE CZECHS OF CLEVELAND 

their own by right of inheritance. The dramatic entertainments given by 
the children are designed to famiHarize them with the use of correct Bohemian. 
They use text books compiled by Vojta Benes, a brother of the present min- 
ister of foreign affairs in Czecho-Slovakia, and the five local schools secure a 
co-ordination of effort through the "Association of Bohemian Freethinking 
Schools," consisting of the eighteen teachers and an equal number of repre- 
sentatives from the supporting societies. 

The Catholic children have hitherto had instruction in the Czech language 
in connection wdth the religious instruction in the parochial schools, but 
in recent years the number of teachers qualified for this instruction has 
become so small that this is now by no means universal. 

It is unfortunately true that in spite of all effort on the part of parents 
and teachers, comparatively few young people are growing up to read the 
Czech language. Many speak it because of the presence in the home of 
grandparents who have never learned English, but they throw away their 
o])]:iortunity to know its fine literature and associations. 

The Sokols. 

Gymnastic work stands with music and the drama as among the things 
without which the Czech cannot live. Gymnasiums have been mentioned as 
part of the equipment of churches and national halls. A large proportion of 
the athletic groups using these gymnasiums are branches of the great Sokol 
organization, which, founded in Prague in 1862, has spread throughout the 
Slav world. 

"Sokol" means falcon. This bird is native to Bohemia, and is conspicu- 
ous there for its strength, freedom, and swiftness. The costume of the Sokol 
societies is characterized by a falcon's feather in the cap. 

The founders of the organization were Dr. Miroslav Tyrs and Jindrich 
Fuegner, two young men of vision, who saw in physical education a means of 
developing in the Czech nation firmness, self-consciousness, and racial pride. 
The Austrian government, which looked with suspicion on every kind of 
public gathering, did not at the beginning scent danger in this tmion of men 
for the sole ostensible purjDOse of gymnastic training and systematic ]3hysical 
development, and the organization spread like wildfire. Subsequent perse- 
cution only gave tenacity to the adherents of the movement whose aim is 
summarized as the effort to produce "brave, courageous young men, strong 
and orderly men in line." 

A sound mind in a sound body, inspired by patriotism and the s]jirit of 
brotherhood, is the aim of the Sokol. Physical and moral perfection, ])atriot- 
ism, democracy and progress are the definite aims. A system of gymnastics 
worked out by the founder, Tyrs, is the basis of all the physical training. 

Classes for girls and women, and for children grouped according to age, 
extend the benefits of this training. In 1912 a great tournament took place 
in Prague, in which 13,000 persons were on the field at one time in perfect 
alignment. It is probable that no meet of equal. size and perfection of work 
was ever held in the world before. The next great festival will take place, 
not in an Austrian Bohemia, but in the free Czechoslovak Republic, in whose 
establishment the Sokols justly claim a large share. About thirty Cleveland 
Czechs attended the 1912 festival, going on a special ship which flew the 
Czech flag. On the voyage, Mr. Frank J. Svoboda, of the daily American, 

28 



THE CZECHS OF CLEVELAND 

published a chronicle" Cech na Oceanu" (The Bohemian on the Ocean) 
whose eight numbers furnish an interesting record of the trip. 

As gymnastics provide for the sound body, so the Sokol desire for a 
soimd mind seeks its goal through dramatic and musical training, lectures on 
educational subjects and the establishment of libraries. 

In Cleveland "Sokol Cech" was founded in 1879; it owns its own hall at 
4820 Wendell avenue, and has at present 148 men and 46 women members. 
"Sokol Nova Vlast" (the new Fatherland) organized in January, 1893, gives 
the name to the Bohemian Sokol Hall on Clark avenue, where it has 133 
men and 9 5 women members; "Sokol Cleveland," founded in 1895, having 172 
men and 122 women members, has built its own hall at 8932 Quincy avenue. 

"Sokol Tyrs," founded in 1906, meets at 11110 Buckeye road with 54 
men and 60 women members, while the youngest society, "Sokol Havlicek," 
meets in the Bohemian National Hall on Broadway with 132 men and 105 
women members. This Sokol is named for the patriot and statesman, Karel 
Havlicek, who died a martyr to the freedom of the press. 

All the Sokols conduct gymnastic classes in groups according to age and 
sex. Sokol Cleveland, for example, has one class for young boys; one for little 
girls; another for girls from 10 to 15 years of age; one for men; and one for 
women. Exhibitions of Sokol work are given by each branch at least once a 
year. This annual "home day" is a very pleasant occasion. All the family 
from the grandparents to the tiny children go to see the family member take 
part. An orchestra furnishes music and the athletes do their most specta- 
cular feats. The girls wear short skirts of navy blue, and white blouses with 
red ties; the men, long trousers of blue jersey cloth, and white jerseys edged 
at neck and anus with red, — a costume of excessive modesty compared with 
that of our college athletes. 

Exercises on the horizontal bar, parallel bars, the horses, jumping and 
calisthenics constitute the program, terminating with really fine "living 
pictures." At Sokol Cleveland's last home-day, the final tableau was a 
living pyramid reaching to the ceiling — a remarkable exhibition for amateurs. 

An Instructors' branch, meeting monthly, secures uniformity af 
efTort, and an annual field day brings all local Sokols together in a brilliant 
spectacle. Cleveland Sokols exhibit a proud collection of trophies from gen- 
eral conventions of the American organization. 

Throughout the United States, the Sokols rushed to arms at the begin- 
ning of the war, and quickly demonstrated in military life, the value of the 
Sokol training. In Cleveland, four who could not wait for the United States, 
enlisted in the Canadian army; 74 served in the United States army; and 24, 
classed as "enemy aliens" fought in the Czecho-Slovak army in France. 

Fraternal Organizations. 

Allusion has been made to the fraternal societies. These are a striking 
feature of all Slav life in America, and the system originated with the Czechs, 
who were the first of the Slav immigrants. In 1854 the Czecho-Slavonic 
Benevolent Society was founded in St. Louis. The Czech name is Cesko- 
Slovansky Podporujici Spolek, which is usually shortened to the initials 
"C. S. P. S." and pronounced "Chesspass." The motto of the organization 
is "Harmony, Equality, Brotherhood," and the practical expression of this 
motto is through its organization as a mutual benefit association. Most of 

30 



THE CZECHS OF CLEVELAND 




Sokol Cleveland Hall. 



the early members served in the Union army during the Civil War, and many 
benefits v^ere paid to the dependents of men who died upon the battlefield. 

The first Cleveland branch was "Svornost" (Harmony,) founded in 1870 
as the third branch of the national organization. There are now 23 C. S. P. S. 
lodges in Cleveland, all of them bearing interesting and distinctive names, 
most of which refer in some way to the national history. Zizka, the great 
military genius of Bohemia, whose army of peasants and mechanics, with 
iron flails and wooden clubs, defeated the mail-clad knights of Europe, is 
memoralized by three lodges, named respectively, Zizka, "Zizkuv Tabor" 
(the Camp of Zizka) and "Zizkuv Mec" (the Sword of Zizka) Peter Chelcicky, 
the Czech Tolstoi, Machar the Poet, and Jan Kollar, poet and patriot, are 
others whose named are borne by Cleveland lodges. 

The location of the Supreme Lodge is determined by each quadrennial 
convention. The last one sent it to Cleveland, where offices are occupied in 
the Bohemian National Hall. The supreme president is Karel Bemreiter, 
8719 Quincy avenue, secretary, J. V. Lunak. and treasurer, C. O. Dolezal. 

The total membership is 23,262, and "Organ Bratrstva" is the official 
bulletin. 

Under the Supreme lodge are eleven Grand Lodges, Cleveland being 
the seat of the Ohio Grand Lodge, whose president is James Honcik, of East 
116th street, secretary, Alfred Huml, 3410 East 52nd street. Included in 
this Grand Lodge are 31 individuals lodges, having 3472 members. 

Another large organization of national scope is the "Bratrska Jednota" 
(Fraternal Union), which was founded in Cleveland in 1885, and a third is 
"Jednota Taboritu," which includes both men and women in separate lodges. 

31 



THE CZECHS OF CLEVELAND 

Similar women's societies are the "Sesterska Podporujici Jednota" 
(Benevolent Sisterhood Union), and the "Jednota Ceskych Dam" (Union of 
Czech women) which was organized in Cleveland in 1870. These are usually 
spokenof by their initials. "J. C. D." has in the United States 144 branches, 
and about 23,000 members; of these 21 branches, with a membership of be- 
tween 2,000 and 3,000 are in Cleveland. Mrs. K. Huspaska, 4236 East 128th 
street, is president of the Grand Lodge of the State of Ohio, Mrs. Anna 
Baloim, 4315 Trowbridge avenue, secretary. Mrs. Caroline Rychlik, who 
was one of the organizers and has always been a very active member is 
affectionately called "the mother of the Bohemian lodges." "S. P. J." has 
72 branches with over 15,000 members, 22 branches and more than one-fifth 
of the memVjers being in Cleveland. 

Other women's societies are the "Jednota Cesky Vlastenek" (United 
Bohemian Women Patriots) and the local society "Vlasta," which was the 
first of the ladies' lodges and celebrates its fiftieth anniversary on F'eb. 1st, 
1920. 

Catholic organizations are the "First Czech Roman Catholic Union", 
of which the Supreme President is Vincent Kolda, 4352 Martin avenue, and 
the secretary is F. J. Adam, 1436 West 18th street, Chicago. The sister so- 
ciety of Czech Roman Catholic Ladies has among its officers two Cleveland 
women: Mrs. Karolina Tuhacek and Mrs. Marie Kapl. 

The "Czech Roman Catholic Benefit Society of St. John Nepomucene" 
is a state organization, having Frankisek Vodrazka ,2477 East 89th street as 
president, and Frantisek Jarousek, 3423 East 54th street, as secretary. 

A local organization is the Union of Czech Roman Catholic women of 
Cleveland, of which the president is Mrs. A. Hlavin, 13022 Miles avenue, and 
the secretary is Mrs. Marie Ineman, 5652 Hamlet avenue. 

Other Lodges. 

A fraternal organization of a more familiar type is Palacky Lodge, No. 
317 of the Knights of Pythias, which was organized in 1889, and now with 
750 members is the largest K. P. lodge in Ohio. Its name is in honor of the 
great historian, who is fondly called "Father Palacky." Lodge Prokop the 
Great, No. 708 Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is named for that Prokop 
upon whom fell Zizka's mantle in Bohemia's 17th century struggle for liberty. 

Business Associations. 

The Mt. Pleasant Improvement Club, Frank Mares, president, is de- 
voted to the development, improvement, and commercial interests of that 
district. Similarly the Buckeye Road Improvement Club seeks the interests 
of its neighborhood. Its president is Joseph Skalnick, 11414 Parkview avenue. 

Outdoor Clubs. 

Sport clubs are a natural development of the Czech fondness for outdoor 
life and recreation. The Czech Sport Club has as its president James Kadlec, 
4927 Broadway. The Karlina Hunting Club bears the name by which the 
Fleet avenue Bohemian settlement is known among the Czechs. The Ohio 
Fishing Club meets in the National Hall on Broadway, where it plans out- 
ings and swaps fish stories. The Rabbit Breeders' Club attempts to reduce 
the high cost of meat by furnishing a home grown variety. 

32 



THE CZECHS OF CLEVELAND 

Social Clubs. 

"Damska Beseda," which means "Ladies' Party," is the name of groups 
that meet socially at the homes of their members in five different parts of 
the city; while the "Ceska Narodna Beseda" is a social club of men, owning 
a club house at 5334 Broadway. 

The Bohemian Old Settlers' association is another social organization 
which affords great pleasure to its members. Kamil Wiesenberger is presi- 
dent, and this organization with the co-operation of many others, is interested 
actively in the effort to establish a "Bohemian Old People's Home." This 
effort was in obeyance during the war, but is now being actively resumed. 

Education. 

In the matter of education, the Czech utilizes every opportunity for him- 
self and tries to gain for his children more than he has had. Girls are con- 
sidered quite as fit as boys for education, and the roster of the various high 
schools, particularly South, Lincoln, East Technical, and the High School of 
Commerce show very large proportion of Czech names. Many of the girls 
go to Normal school, and become teachers, the class of 1919 containing a large 
number of Czech names. A good proportion also go to college, and many 
young men take up the professions of law, medicine, and dentistry. 

Dr. Joseph Sykora, who was graduated from the Cleveland Medical 
College and began practice in 1875, was the first Bohemian doctor. For 
many years he drove a yellow horse, which became familiar to all Czech 
Cleveland, and it was a common saying that as soon as the yellow horse ap- 
peared upon the street, the patient began to recover. 

Joseph Jicha, a Cleveland young man of Czech parentage won the first 
prize at the Cleveland School of Art in 1919, and the second honors went to 
a Bohemian girl, Helen Srp, of Bedford. 

During the last two winters, the Bohemian-Russian club consisting of 
about 50 persons, has met twice a week with a Russian teacher to study the 
Russian language. Their object is three fold; first cultural; second, to pre- 
pare themselves to further trade relations with Russia; and third, to assist in 
the development of fellowship throughout the Slav race. 

The Broadway Library. 

The love of books is a natural accompaniment of intelligence and edu- 
cation, therefore it is not surprising that as early as 1895, the Czechs of Cleve- 
land requested the addition of Bohemian books to the public library. This 
request was granted soon after, and ever since Czech literature has been 
given place and consideration. When the present system of branch libraries 
was in its infancy, the Czechs of the Broadway district presented a petition, 
which resulted in the erection in 1906 of the Broadway Branch Library at 
Broadway and East 55th streets. The overwhelming nature of the first de- 
mands upon it are a permanent tradition in the library organization. Not a 
book was left in the childrens' room at the end of the first day, and Bohemian 
books had to be purchased as emergency orders wherever they could be 
found, in order to satisfy what seemed to be an insatiable demand. After 
the first nish was over, a collection of 4,000 voliimes was found to be ade- 
quate to the needs in the Bohemian language, the books being read most by 
the old people and the newcomers. The Broadway library has 11,000 active 
borrowers, of whom about sixty-five per cent are either Czech or of Czech 

33 



TfHE 



CZECHS OF CLEVELAND 




The Children's Room in the Broadway Library 

parentap:e, and its total circulation has gone up to 196,000 volumes in a year, 
with a daily reading room attendance, during the winter months, of over one 
thousand. 

Other libraries in Czech centers are the Quincy Branch at Quincy avenue 
and East 79th street, and the Clark avenue Branch at 4620 Clark avenue, the 
Milford School Branch and the Rice School Branch. Many other library 
agencies circulate some Bohemian books, the total for the library system 
having been 44,423 in 1914. Since that time, owing to the lack of new 
titles and replacements on account of the war, there has been a slight drop in 
the Bohemian circulation, but every day now people ask if any new books have 
yet been received. 



Americanization. 

The Czech who comes to America comes with the determination to adjust 
himself to American conditions just as soon as possible and he knows what to 
expect better than the immigrants of races newer to this country. In Cleve- 
land he seeks out the classes for beginners in English and soon, if he has any 
kind of a teacher, masters enough of the language for practical purposes at 
least. He brought his family with him when he came, burning all bridges be- 
hind him, and he buys a home at the earliest possible moment and identifies 
himself also as an American citizen. Some of the first names in the first record 
book of the Naturalization Office of the Federal Court are Czech names, those 
of the pioneers of the early 50's, who set the example since followed almost uni- 
versally. 

34 



THE CZECHS OF CLEVELAND 

Politics. 

The Czechs are however not politicians, and do not seek place nor politi- 
cal preferment. They are independent voters; a majority are probably demo- 
crats, but they split the ticket or vote independently whenever the character of 
the issues or the personality of the candidate makes an appeal to them. Thus 
the 13th ward, typically Czech, in 1917 went democratic for councilman and 
president, and republican for mayor. This is quite typical, the newspapers 
also being independent in politics. Cleveland Czechs holding public offices at 
present are the Hon. John J. Babka, Member of Congress, A. F. Sprosty, Di- 
rector of Public Safety, and Councilmen Kadlecek of the 13th ward, Zmunt of 
the 7th, and Soika of the 16th. A. W. Chaloupka is assistant county prose- 
cutor, and Rev. John Pnicha has rendered in the City Immigration Bureau 
services of the greatest value. 

There has always been an element of socialism among the Czechs, but it is 
socialism of the constructive type which is organizing the Czecho-Slovak Re- 
public. There are nine branches of the Bohemian Socialist party in Cleveland 
at present. Several of these are quite as much social as political in their activi- 
ties, having musical and dramatic branches. The Czech socialists of Cleveland 
are to a large extent immigrants of the last ten or fifteen years, the older 
residents tending toward conserv^atism. 

Occupations. 

In occupation the Bohemian of Cleveland is in general the skilled work- 
man. There are many tailors, although not so large a proportion as formerly, 
many of the women also working in the garment trades. There are many 
skilled workers in shops and trades of every kind. Two unions of carpenters 
and one of bakers, and an "Educational Club of Czech Foundrymen' compose 
the list' of labor unions which are distinguished as Czech, but of course the 
large number belong to unions in which there is no distinction of nationality. 

The streets of Czech neighborhoods are lined with good stores where 
every class of merchandise is handled. Bakeries are numerous, since Czech 
baked goods are distinctive and too good to be given up. Music stores are also 
conspicuous, as no people in the city buy more musical instruments than the 
Czechs. 

Manufacturing. 

Small manufacturing concerns, employing from ten to twenty men, are 
characteristic of the Czechs in Cleveland, the only large concern being the 
Vlchek Tool Company at 10709 Quincy avenue, now moving to a new plant at 
8701 Mt. Auburn avenue. 

This concern is an exhibition of Czech industry, business sagacity, and 
ability. Mr.Frank J.Vlchek,the owner,came to this country an immigrant lad 
of eighteen, equipped only with his trade, that of blacksmith, to which he had 
added training in surgical instrument making. In 1893 he had a blacksmith 
shop on Central avenue, small enough to be moved on a wagon when removal 
became expedient. From that humble beginning he has developed the largest 
business in the country in tools; eighty-five per cent of the automobiles of the 
United States are equipped with Vlchek tool-kits. Four hundred men are em- 
ployed, with improvements planned which will enroll a force of 600 within an- 
other year. The new plant, into which the shops will be entirely removed by the 
end of 1919, represents an investment of !?500,000, with a second part of equal 

35 



THE CZECHS OF CLEVELAND 

size to follow immediately. Czecho-Slovaks find pleasure in working for their 
countryman, and about three-fourths of the present force are of that race. Mr. 
Vlchek is ambitious to see all his employees advance, and, regarding mastery of 
the English language as essential to this, he has classes in English in the factory 
and throws all his personal influence in favor of education and progress. The 
famous "Message to Garcia" was translated into Bohemian at Mr.Vlchek's ex- 
pense, and by him distributed to his men. 

The Forest City Brewery is a Czech concern, the Bohemians being famous 
as brewers. The American saloon is a feature of the Americanization of the 
Czechs which has been greatly to their disadvantage. In the old country the 
"hospoda" was a social place where a man went in the evening, often with his 
family, sat at a table with a table cloth, his friends at the next table, drank a 
glass or two of beer, listened to the music, looked at the new journals, and went 
home rested and refreshed. In America, where drinks are taken standing and 
without the social adjuncts, the tendency becomes of course to drink too 
much and to use stronger drinks. The saloonkeeper who knows the old coun- 
try customs, adopts the American first because it is the style in this country, 
and then because he finds that he can make more money. While there is much 
regret for the good Bohemian beer, there is no good Czech who regrets the de- 
parture of the American saloon. 

Cleveland Czechs and the War. 

To give any adequate account of the part of Cleveland Czechs in the great 
war would require a volume in itself. The break up of the Austro-Hungarian 
monarchy was achieved by the Czechs within the kingdom, and they had cour- 
age to stake all on the throw because they were supported by the Czechs in 
America, of whom the Cleveland Czechs are an important part. The Czecho- 
slovak army in Russia was financed by American Czechs, Cleveland alone hav- 
ing contributed a quarter of a million dollars to the cause. Ven Svarc and Jo- 
seph Martinek of this city spent the year 1917 in Russia, and Mr. Martinek is 
now in Siberia, where his mission is to carry news and comfort to the Czecho- 
slovak army, who, without opportunity of returning home after a year of peace 
are in danger of feeling themselves deserted and abandoned by the Allies to 
whom they brought success. 

Three hundred and fifty men went from Cleveland to join the Czecho- 
slovak army in France. The following is an incomplete list of the Cleveland 
Czechs who, in the Czecho-Slovak and in the United States armies, received 
decorations for valor: 

Joseph Andel 3459 East 1 14th St Czecho-Slovak decoration. 

Frank Cihan 13006 Kinsman Ave Croix d'guerre 

August Habart Czecho-Slovak decoration. 

Prokop Hlavaty U.S. distinguished service 

medal. 

Anton Hobl Czecho-Slovak decoration. 

John Horak 3725 East 50th St Czecho-Slovak decoration. 

Joseph Hrbek 501 1 Hamm Ave Czecho-Slovak decoration. 

Louis Kalus 13003 Union Ave Czecho-Slovak decoration. 

James Kerka 3251 West 38th St .Czecho-Slovak decoration. 

Lada Kiml 5404 Magnet Ave Czecho-Slovak decoration. 

J, • .- and 

Croix d'guerre 
36 



THE CZECHS OF CLEVELAND 

Frank Opatmy 7512 Union Ave Czecho-Slovak decoration. 

Emanuel Pekarek 3164 West 50th St Czecho-Slovak decoration. 

Frank Prokop 3061 West 56th St Czecho-Slovak decoration. 

James Sebek 3323 West 59th St Czecho-Slovak decoration. 

James Sedlacek 3261 East 49th St Czecho-Slovak decoration 

and 

Croix d'guerre 

Anton L. Shebanek . . . 7217 Ivy Ave Croix d'guerre 

Joseph Svrk Reno Ave Croix d'guerre 

and 

Czecho-Slovak decoration. 

John Tyma 5114 Hamm Ave Czecho-Slovak decoration. 

Joseph Urban 13003 Union Ave Czecho-Slovak decoration. 

Anton Verkner U. S. distinguished service 

medal 
Anton Vojncek 3338 West 145th St Czecho-Slovak decoration. 

Nearly half of ;;hose who went from Cleveland into the Czecho-Slovak 
army are now in Prague, and may perhaps remain the^e. Those who have 
returned are very anxious to have restored their previous status as applicants 
for citizenship, and a petition to this effect has been sent to Congress. In 
this petition they speak of American citizenship that "which every man 
holds dearest" and beg its restoration. 

The various political activities of the Czechs in this country were co- 
ordinated for war purposes through the Bohemian National Alliance, whose 
headquarters are at 3734 West 26th street, Chicago, and the National Alliance 
of Bohemian Catholics, 3207 West 22nd street, Chicago. 

Karel Bemreiter, Joseph Martinek, and Rev. Oldrich Zlamal, of Cleve- 
land, are members of the Council of the American Czecho-Slovak Board, 
which is the executive body of Czech and Slovak organizations in America. 

The Czecho-slovak Review, a monthly periodical under the editorship 
of J. F. Sm.etanka, is published in English for the purpose of acquainting 
Americans wnth the Czecho-Slovak situation in general. It is an able publi- 
cation, well illustrated, containing in each number a great amount of infor- 
mation not hitherto available in English. It is temperate in tone and broad 
in its outlook, and should have the widest reading among all persons wishing 
correct information on the affairs of Central Eturope. 

A book on "The Czechs in America," by Thomas Capek, announced for 
October publication, will also furnish interesting and valuable information. 
Mr. Capek is a scholar, a bibliographer, and a man of affairs and is the only 
person who has yet written extensively in English, with an inside knowedge 
of Czecho-Slovak affairs. 



37 



THE CZECHS OF CLEVELAND 



Authorities Consulted 

"Ceska Osada, a jeji Spolkovy Zivot v Cleveland, Ohio." 

An illustrated history of Bohemians in Cleveland, prepared for the 
Prague Ethnological Exposition of 1895, and published by the Volnost press 
in Cleveland. 192 pp. 

"Kratke Dejiny a seznam Cesko-Katolickych osad ve Spoj. Statech Ameri- 
ickych." 

A register and brief history of Bohemian Catholic colonies in the U. S. 
in honor of the 25th jubilee of Very Rev. Joseph Hessoun, by Rev. P. A. P. 
Houst. St. Louis, 1890, 552 pp. 

"Dejiny Cechuv Americkych," by Jan Habenicht. 

A condensed history of American Bohemian life, pub. by the "Hlas" 
press in St. Louis, about 1894. 

"Padesat let Ceskeho Tisku v Americe," by Thomas Capek. 

Fifty years of the Bohemian press in America; a bibliography, with 
historical notes, of Bohemian periodical publications in the United States 
from 1860 to 1911; pub. in New York, 1911. 269 pp. 
These four are in Bohemian. 

"Czechoslovak Review"; a monthly periodical published at 2324 South 
Central Park Avenue, Chicago, beginning in 1917. 

"Bohemian (Cech) Bibliography; a finding list of writings in English relating 
to Bohemia and the Cechs," by Thomas Capek and Anna Vostrovsky Capek. 
A valuable illustrated and annotated bibliography, published by Fleming 
H. Revell Co. in New York in 1918. 256 pp. 



39 



THE C Z E C H S OF CLEVELAND 



Cleveland Americanization Committee 



EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 



Mr Raymond Moley — Chairman 
Mrs. J. N. Fleming— Vice Chairman 
Miss Helen Bacon— Secretary 
Mrs. A. L. Bishop 
Mr. Harold T. Clark 



Mrs. E. H. Fishman 
Miss Alice P. Gannett 
Mr. Ernest Joseph 
Judge Manuel Levine 
Mr. Carl P. P. Vitz 
Mrs. C. W. Webb 



GENERAL COMMITTEE 



Mr. J. J. Babka 
Mrs. Willard Beahan 
Mrs. W. C. Boyle 
Mrs. James M. Bryer 
Mr. Edward Bushnell 
Mrs. W. P. Chamberlain 
Miss Hazel Foster 
Mr. Hugh M. Fullerton 
Miss Helen Hanchette 
Mrs. E. L. Harris 
Mr. George B. Harris 
Mrs. E. B. Haserodt 
Mrs. Ray A. Hauserman 
Mr. David E. Green 
Mr. R. J. Hoddinott 
Mrs. Helen Horvath 
Mrs. Sarah E. Hyre 
Rev. Joel B. Hay den 
Mrs. Durward. B. Igou 
Mrs. Stella Jacoby 
Rev. William A. Kane 
Miss K. Kennedy 



Miss Hedwig Kosbab 
Mrs. E. C. Kraus 
Mrs. E. E. Ledbetter 
Mrs. E. C. McCullough 
Mrs. J. L. Mihehch 
Miss Margaret Mitchell 
Mr. De Lo Mook 
Miss Sarah J. Neuhart 
Mrs. P. C. O'Brien 
Mrs, Chas. Orr 
Miss Mary E. Parker 
Mrs. Roger G. Perkins 
Mr. John Prucha 
Miss Mary Robertson 
Judge Joseph F. Sawicki 
Mrs. E. M. Spreng 
Miss B . Swainhardt 
Mrs. Howard S. Thayer 
Mrs. E. J. Weigel 
Mr. F. Allen Whiting 
Miss E. Louise Willmott 
Mr. E. R. Wright 



Other Publications of the Committee 

Americanization of Cleveland. 

The Slovaks of Cleveland. 

Lessons on American Citizenship. 

The Jugoslavs of Cleveland. 

The Magyars of Cleveland. 

The Italians of Cleveland. 

Jhe Poles of Cleveland. 



40 



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